SAQA All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Bachelor of Psychology 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
80194  Bachelor of Psychology 
ORIGINATOR
Walter Sisulu University 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education  HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
National First Degree  Field 07 - Human and Social Studies  General Social Science 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  480  Level 7  NQF Level 08  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Registered-data under construction  EXCO 0324/24  2024-07-01  2027-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2028-06-30   2033-06-30  

Registered-data under construction

The qualification content is currently being updated for the qualifications with the status “Registered-data under construction” or showing “DETAILS UNDER CONSTRUCTION” to ensure compliance with SAQA’S Policy and Criteria for the registration of qualifications and part-qualifications on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) (As amended, 2022). These qualifications are re-registered until 30 June 2027 and can legitimately be offered by the institutions to which they are registered.

 

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Purpose:

The purpose of the qualification is to:
  • Prepare students for a career as professional psychology counsellors.
  • Equip students with policy making and research skills with respect to the field of psychology.
  • Ensure and nurture sound theoretical, ethical and practical approaches in the psychology profession.

    Rationale:

    The rationale for the development and implementation of the programme is to:
  • Provide students with a professional qualification to become registered counsellors.
  • Orientate them to the various theoretical and practical approaches within the field of counselling/clinical psychology.
  • Nurture in students, through the study of social scientific knowledge and research skills, innovative, creative and critical skills required to improve the quality of life of society. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    Prospective Bachelor in Psychology students must demonstrate:
  • Ability to communicate adequately in spoken and written language.
  • A mastery of basic literacy and numeracy skills.
  • Strong and sincere interest in helping others.
  • Sensitivity and awareness of human behaviour and needs.
  • Critical and reflective skills as well as creative abilities.

    Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):

    Alternative routes of entry including the assessment of a student's capacity to access the programme by Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) or other means apply, using Senate discretionary selection requirements.

    Access to the qualification:

    The entrance qualification for the Bachelor of Psychology shall be:
  • A National Certificate (NCS) or its equivalent.
  • Life Orientation and Mathematical Literacy at Grade 12 Level. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    NQF Level 7: Total Credits required at the qualifications are 480, as assigned in the following table:

    Learning components; Number of Credits; NQF Level:
  • Fundamentals; 48 Credits; NQF Level 5 and 6.
  • Core; 376 Credits; NQF Level 6 and 7.
  • Electives; 64 Credits; NQF Level 7. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    Specific outcomes:

    Upon successful completion of the programme students will be able to demonstrate:
  • That they have acquired sound theoretical knowledge-based and critical understanding of psychology in general.
  • Knowledge of contemporary counselling/clinical theories as related to most aspects of health care and promotion of psychological well-being.
  • Appropriate skills and competence in assessing psychological problems.
  • Ability and skills in the administration, scoring and interpretation of selected psychological tests.
  • Skills and competence in the design and implementation of psychological research.

    Critical outcomes:

    The critical cross-field outcomes are integrated into the exit level outcomes of the qualification as follows:
  • Identifying and solving problems in which responses display that responsible decisions using critical and creative thinking have been made.
  • Working effectively with others as a member of a team, group, organization and community.
  • Organizing and managing oneself and one's activities responsibility and effectively.

    Both formative and summative assessment will be used as indicated on Integrated Assessment. 
    		•

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Integrated Assessment:

    The assessment strategy includes a variety of options to demonstrate and provide evidence of practice, based on the anticipated outcomes and the assessment criteria. This includes activities such as case studies, problem solving assignments, practice in simulated and in situ contexts, projects, written and oral presentations.

    The assessment is focused on applied competence and assessment evidence include:
  • Oral presentations which are observed in context to observe ability to communicate with comprehension.
  • Two or more work-based projects to demonstrate the application of the learning and insights from the core modules.
  • Evidence of self, peer and tutor assessment.
  • Assignments and/or examinations providing evidence of the ability to apply knowledge to practice.
  • Psychological assessment case study.
  • A mini-dissertation. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    The institutions of higher education internationally which offer comparable qualifications are Honolulu University and Columbia University in the United States of America, and Oxford University and Cambridge University in England. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    The qualification articulates horizontally to the Bachelor of Social Sciences. The qualification articulates vertically to relevant Master of Arts degrees. 

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    The university policy provides for the use of:
  • Internal moderation: Relevant senior academics.
  • External moderation: Senior academics from other universities.
  • As part of examination processes and procedures the university uses sequentially the following structures:
  • Departmental examination committee.
    > Faculty examination board.
    > The University Academic Planning and Examinations Committee (APEC); and finally.
    > Senate.

    The majority of Faculty of Education staff members are qualified assessors. 
    		•

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this qualification was Reregistered in 2009; 2012; 2015. 

    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: 
     
    NONE 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    1. Walter Sisulu University 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.